Can wood borrow strength from metal? Researchers at Florida Atlantic University think so. A new process infuses red oak with iron oxide at the microscopic level, significantly boosting its stiffness and hardness while maintaining its low weight. For architects and engineers focused on sustainable materials, the innovation does not replace metal—it builds on its legacy, using ferrihydrite to push natural materials toward performance thresholds once dominated by metal alone.
Led by Asst. Prof. Vivian Merk, researchers began experimenting with samples of red oak hardwood, which they chose because of its porous internal structure. They mixed ferric nitrate with potassium hydroxide to create a hard iron oxide mineral called nanocrystalline ferrihydrite, which they then drew into the red oak’s internal structure with a vacuum impregnation process.
According to the scientists, this process increased the stiffness and hardness of the wood by 260.5 percent and 127 percent, respectively, while only slightly increasing its overall weight. However, they found the samples would still bend and break like any other wood.
This research represents a major breakthrough in material science, says Stella Batalama, Ph.D., the dean of FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.
“This research marks a significant advancement in sustainable materials science and a meaningful stride toward eco-friendly construction and design,” she says. “By reinforcing natural wood through environmentally conscious and cost-effective methods, our researchers are laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials…the impact of this work reaches far beyond the field of engineering—it contributes to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, cut down on waste, and embrace sustainable, nature-inspired solutions for everything from buildings to large-scale infrastructure.”
A paper on the research, which also involved scientists from the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was recently published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
